The connections of Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle will discuss the possibility of going chasing next season, according to trainer Henry de Bromhead.
The superstar mare extended her unbeaten run under rules to eleven races when running away with the two mile showpiece event under Rachael Blackmore on Tuesday.
Her glittering CV now includes a Champion Hurdle, a Mares' Hurdle and two Irish Champion Hurdles.
But de Bromhead has not ruled out the possibility of the Kenny Alexandr-owned mare tackling fences and an audacious bid to emulate legendary mare Dawn Run - the only horse to win the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup.
He told Racing TV's Luck on Sunday: “It’s something we’ll have to give a lot of thought to and ultimately it comes down to Kenny (Alexander, owner).
“She’s an extremely valuable mare. There’s probably a little bit more risk over fences, but without wanting to tempt fate, she goes off loose every Sunday morning in our indoor school and she takes off and goes off jumping for sport.
“Every Sunday morning she jumps a chase fence about four times and she loves it.
“I haven’t actually schooled over fences outside, but she’s a point-to-point winner and makes that shape over hurdles, so if Kenny said he’d like to go chasing – I think it’s something we all need to discuss, the pros and cons, and then ultimately it’s down to Kenny to decide what he wants to do.”
De Bromhead had a sensational Festival. He trained six winners including victories in the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and the Gold Cup. But the apple of his eye remains the daughter of Sulamani.
"She just has that thing that no one is going past her. She is winning and that is it.
"It sounds ridiculous but even when we were working her on the beach two weeks before Cheltenham, her head was down and horse upsides is just not going past her.
"It's mad. She just doesn't want to get beat. She just keeps finding."
De Bromhead was also keen to praise the achievements of Blackmore, who became the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle and the first to be crowned leading jockey at the Festival.
He said: "She works hard and has had to work hard. She's a 10-year overnight success.
"She's had all the knocks. I know the feeling and you just have to work your way through it and try to step forward and not back.
"Rachael appreciates what it takes to be at the top of this game. She's brilliant to work with and has every race planned out.
"I thought some of her rides this week were brilliant. She's just a great rider and a great person."
